Israel does indeed have a right to exist, but Israel has no right to
perpetually persecute, impoverish, and displace the native
non-Jewish Palestinians.

Israel as a Jewish state in 1948 could have respected ALL
international laws and universal human rights, including but not
limited to the Palestinian refugees right to return to original
homes and lands to live in peace as clearly affirmed in 1948 by
United Nations Resolution 194 ( ...and clearly reaffirmed time and
time again ever since.)

Israel as a Jewish state in 1948 might have meant compassion for all
people and an earnest quest to build a nation state based on empathy
and the rule of fair and just laws, but instead Israel has foolishly
invested in institutionalized bigotry and injustice.

Islamists have made a bad situation catastrophically worse. Shame on
Hamas- and shame on all who advocate violence, including some of
Israel's own state subsidized religious zealots. Shame on ISIS and
shame on all who stoke hostilities, suffering, sectarian strife and
endless war in the Middle East.

A fully secular two state solution to once and for ALL end the
Israel-Palestine conflict with a just and lasting peace based on
full respect for international law and universal human rights is the
best way forward out of this cruel mess. For all the children- and
all families, regardless of supposed race or religion.

The American
Task Force on Palestine supports Palestinian
institution-building, good governance, anti-corruption
measures, economic development, and improved
living standards. ATFP holds that these same values are
relevant to the broader Arab world, and that the
question of Palestine is inextricably linked to regional
realities and developments.

ATFP provides an independent voice
for Palestinian-Americans and their supporters and
advances human rights and peace. It categorically
and unequivocally condemns all violence against
civilians, no matter the cause and who the victims or
perpetrators may be.

July 8, 2014,
Washington, DC -- The American Task Force on Palestine
(ATFP) today called on Israel and the Palestinians to
de-escalate as quickly as possible from an increasingly
explosive situation and a moment of grave peril. Major
airstrikes on Gaza have killed numerous Palestinians,
reportedly including several children, today while
another heavy barrage of rocket fire from Gaza was
launched towards southern Israel, and at least one
rocket being reportedly shot down over Tel Aviv. Today's
violence comes in the context of tit-for-tat killings
of, and attacks on, Israeli and Palestinian teenagers in
Jerusalem, widespread tensions in the West Bank, and
even growing unrest among Palestinian citizens of
Israel.

ATFP called on all sides
to demonstrate leadership and to take immediate and
concrete actions to de-escalate the growing conflict
and refrain from inflammatory rhetoric. ATFP urged all
parties to consider the negative consequences of
similar conflagrations in the past, and recall that
they did not benefit either side, militarily or
politically, but caused the deaths of countless
innocent civilians, enormous destruction of property,
and widespread and lasting misery. ATFP urged
President Barack Obama and the rest of the
international community to use their good offices to
ensure that all prospects for resolving the crisis are
fully explored.